If the lure of sophisticated, luxe Raffles and its Cosmopolitan cocktails leaves you cold, head to Singapore’s new hot hotel. A trio of impeccably preserved 19th Century-spice warehouses on the Singapore River is luring design-savvy tastemakers and upmarket hipsters. On the roof there’s a glass-walled pool with retro pink tiles. The in-house restaurant is headed by local chef and Mod-Sin pioneer Willin Low, and features twists on hawker staples such as a popiah pancake that you wrap yourself with pork and vegetables. The chef is bridging the gap between Singapore’s culinary heritage and nostalgic home-cooked dishes.

It is possible to suspend time in this modern, bustling city. Tea Chapter – a traditional Chinese tea house little-known to tourists and an authentic spot for taking and purchasing tea – has conserved the tradition of lingering over a cuppa. The locals love it, as does Queen Elizabeth II, whose visit was captured by pictures that now adorn the walls in tribute.

Those who think the way to a city’s heart is through its stomach should head straight to one of Singapore’s many wet markets. A stop at Tekka Centre – an uncomplicated hawker stall and wet market selling predominantly Indian food – offers a dining experience that is about as local and authentic as it gets. It’s the largest of its kind in Singapore and is where locals do their grocery shopping. Hawker food centres are essentially street food stalls jumbled together in designated areas. Look for the city’s local specialty, Hainanese chicken rice – boiled chicken served with rice cooked in chicken stock. The popular Tiong Bahru Food Market, which also features a hawker centre upstairs, is popular with international expats living in Singapore – there’s New Zealand and Australian beef, too.

Skip the malls and hunt for boutiques and independent clothing stores in the many small alleys and streets of Singapore. Outside the Tiong Bahru Food Market, explore the surrounding art deco neighbourhood for boutiques and clothing stores. There’s the beautiful Nana & Bird on Chay Yan Street, or drop in to refuel at the retro 40 Hands Coffee which also does a great lunch. Think: banana bacon French toast, Korean fried chicken burgers on charcoal buns, and steamed Asian sliders stuffed with braised pork in soya sauce.

Savvy and well-informed shopping aficionados head to Haji Lane. One of the narrowest and most colourful streets in Singapore – thanks to a massive mural – can be found (and easily missed) in the city’s Arab Quarter. Browse the stretch for small colourful boutiques selling clothes, flowers, and vintage wares.

Singapore prides itself on being a city in a garden, but most of these green spaces are carefully manicured and maintained. The Green Corridor is Singapore’s rendition of New York’s Highline. A 24-kilometre stretch of former rail tracks were abandoned in 2011 and now invites locals to escape into the tranquility of this lush trail which snakes its way from Tanjogn Pagar to Woodlands Checkpoint. Put on a comfortable pair of shoes and walk, or run, along the sometimes rugged, muddy and rocky, although mostly flat terrain.